Characteristics of trials included in the meta-analysis.

<p>IV: intravenous; ASA, American Society of Anesthesiologists; D: dexamethasone; T: tropisetron; O: ondansetron; G: Granisetron.</p><p>Characteristics of trials included in the meta-analysis.</p

VAS post-operative pain score grouped by dexamethasone dose.

<p>Six studies described post-operative pain scores in thyroidectomy patients treated with dexamethasone versus placebo with or without concomitant anti-emetics (WMD –1.17, 95% CI –1.91 to –0.44, <i>P</i> = 0.002). There was evidence of significant heterogeneity between RCTs (<i>P</i><0.00001, <i>I²</i> = 94%).</p

Quality of evidence in included studies.

<p>Quality of evidence in included studies.</p

Incidence of PONV grouped by concomitant anti-emetics.

<p>Eleven studies described the incidence of PONV in thyroidectomy patients treated with dexamethasone versus placebo with or without concomitant anti-emetics (RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.63, <i>P</i><0.00001). There was evidence of significant heterogeneity between studies (<i>P</i> = 0.003, <i>I²</i> = 56%).</p

PONV according to dexamethasone dose.

<p>Higher dexamethasone doses (8–10<b> </b>mg) were significantly more effective than lower dexamethasone doses (1.25–5<b> </b>mg) (<i>P</i> = 0.02).</p

Comparison of dexamethasone with other anti-emetics.

<p>Three studies described the incidence of PONV in thyroidectomy patients treated with dexamethasone versus other anti-emetics (RR 1.25, 95% CI 0.86–1.81, <i>P</i> = 0.24). There was no evidence of significant heterogeneity between RCTs (<i>P</i> = 0.27, <i>I²</i> = 23%).</p

Need for rescue antiemetics grouped by concomitant antiemetics.

<p>Six studies described the need for rescue antiemetics in thyroidectomy patients treated with dexamethasone versus placebo with or without concomitant antiemetics (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.57, <i>P</i><0.00001). There was no evidence of significant heterogeneity between RCTs (<i>P</i> = 0.43, <i>I²</i> = 0%).</p

GRADE evidence.

<p>*The basis for the <b>assumed risk</b> (e.g. the median control group risk across studies) is provided in footnotes. The <b>corresponding risk</b> (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the <b>relative effect</b> of the intervention (and its 95% CI). <b>CI:</b> Confidence interval; <b>RR:</b> Risk ratio.</p><p>GRADE Working Group grades of evidence. <b>High quality:</b> Further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect. <b>Moderate quality:</b> Further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate. <b>Low quality:</b> Further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate. <b>Very low quality:</b> We are very uncertain about the estimate.</p>1<p>Although the PONV results demonstrated significant heterogeneity (<i>P</i> = 0.003, <i>I</i>² = 56%), it was partly explained by the dose of dexamethasone. ²Downgraded by not comparing higher dose with lower dose directly, but upgraded by the dose-response gradient. ³Although there was significant heterogeneity (<i>P</i><0.00001, <i>I</i>² = 94%), it was partly explained by the dose of dexamethasone. ⁴Publication bias as <i>Pr</i>>|<i>z</i>| = 0.06.</p><p>PONV: post-operative nausea and vomiting; VAS: visual analogue scales.</p><p><b>Patient or population:</b> patients undergoing thyroidectomy. <b>Settings:</b> evidence from China, Japan, Korea, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Portugal. <b>Intervention:</b> dexamethasone. <b>Comparison:</b> placebo.</p><p>GRADE evidence.</p

The ingredients of starter and the nutrient compositions of milk replacement, starter ration, and alfalfa hay.

<p>The ingredients of starter and the nutrient compositions of milk replacement, starter ration, and alfalfa hay.</p

Effects of CaP supplementation and ages on intestinal development and morphological measurements of calve.

<p>Effects of CaP supplementation and ages on intestinal development and morphological measurements of calve.</p